King Abdullah II
New Delhi, March 18: India and Jordan have quietly enhanced intelligence and security cooperation after the execution of Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasasbeh by the Islamic State earlier this year, amid growing fears of the militant group's reach spreading beyond Iraq and Syria.
The two nations are also trying to facilitate a visit by Jordan's King Abdullah II and Queen Rania later this year, during which pacts on strengthening defence and strategic cooperation may be inked, senior Indian and Jordanian officials familiar with the plan have told The Telegraph. The Jordanian king and queen had visited India in 2006.
India has made it clear to the US and its allies battling the IS that it is unwilling to participate militarily in the conflict against the group that has grabbed control of large swathes of Iraq and Syria.
But during his visit to Washington last September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had told US President Barack Obama India was keen to enhance intelligence sharing, especially involving Indian nationals trying to sneak into Iraq and Syria to join that group.
"The intelligence sharing we have with Jordan is in keeping with the vision the Prime Minister shared," a senior Indian official said. "We have made it clear that is an area we are willing to contribute more."
The IS - which used to be known earlier as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria - had in early February released a video showing al-Kasasbeh being burned alive inside a cage.
It was later revealed that the group had held the pilot, whose plane had crashed near Raqqa in Syria, and Japanese journalist Kenji Goto hostage, and offered to release the two in exchange for Sajida al-Rishawi, a woman sentenced to death by Jordan on charges of terrorism.
Jordanian public opinion was not heavily in favour of involving the nation in the battle against the IS till that point. The execution changed that, and Abdullah II ordered Jordanian fighter planes to join the bombing of suspected IS fortresses in Syria.
There is also a growing consensus that the spread of the IS cannot truly be controlled solely through aerial bombardment any more - and that ground troops may be necessary. Obama administration officials have in recent weeks indicated the US may be unable to avoid boots on the ground.
If Jordan too decides to join ground action against the IS, India could indirectly help, officials said.
India already trains Jordanian military personnel at its schools here, officials said. But the training could be extended to more Jordanian officers, an Indian diplomat suggested, under an enhanced security cooperation arrangement.
For Jordan, India and other nations in the region, a major concern in West Asia involves the possibility of the spread of the IS.
Over the past few days, IS fighters have clashed with other militia in oil-rich Libya, already splintered between multiple armed factions. Concerns also linger over Turkey's ability - and intent - to plug holes along its southern borders with Syria and Iraq, through which most foreign recruits of the IS have joined the group.
"Ultimately, for us, that is the biggest concern," a second Indian diplomat said. "It's a battle that's being fought with guns and planes, but it's equally about the mind."
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